Jessica & Karl

Hi all, got our visa approved yesterday in London.  So relieved.  Hope to see you all over on the AOS threads.
 
@Greenbaum Just wanted to say a quick thank you for keeping all this running and your patient support, your guidance and experience was invaluable.  

Hi all, got our visa approved yesterday in London.  So relieved.  Hope to see you all over on the AOS threads.
 
@Greenbaum Just wanted to say a quick thank you for keeping all this running and your patient support, your guidance and experience was invaluable.  

Hi all, just a quick update.  We just got our interview date for London, UK.  January 12th.  We are also an original plaintiff in the Milligan case. 
 
The Embassy set our date, we didn't have an option to choose it.

Hi all, just a quick update.  We just got our interview date for London, UK.  January 12th.  We are also an original plaintiff in the Milligan case. 
 
The Embassy set our date, we didn't have an option to choose it.

After staying a month in Mexico we flew from Cancun and went through immigration in Atlanta. It was a breeze.  Planning for him to stay almost the full 90 days unless we get an interview. 

Just a few words about our trip to Mexico City before going to the US. Hopefully, it will help some of you and give you some hope
 
I’m French and my boyfriend is American. We spent 16 days in a lovely hotel in Mexico City.  We stayed in our room most of the time, just to stay safe and then the big day arrived.
 
I was stressed out even if I was more than ready : I had my ESTA with me, I had my return ticket for Paris too and I checked everything before leaving (especially all the great information on Visa Journey). We also called the US Customs and Border Protection, and I emailed them a couple of days before leaving Mexico (I had their answer printed on me too)
 
So, I went through the immigration in Dallas a few days ago and everything went well.
 
After five months being apart, I’m able to spend a few weeks with my boyfriend. This is ... so great.
 
No matter what is your nationality, if you’ve spent the last fourteen days in a country outside of the Schengen Area, you’ll be fine.
 
Good luck everybody! 
 

Little worried how long we'll be able to do this after reading this: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53740840. Perhaps even trying to bar US citizens abroad from returning.  We are leaving on Sunday from Mexico and eager to get into the US before we get more bad luck.

@NanRob Jessica is here!  She said is was a really easy journey, the flight wasn't full and the food and drinks service was normal. Only thing was wearing masks.  She had to fill in the UK quarantine form before she left, they checked that on landing, but no other questions.  She's now quarantining here with me and I couldn't be happier!   All I can say is book that flight! 

Jessica is flying next Wednesday (8th July). I'll update with our experience.

To be honest, when we asked it was in relation to the effect of the overstay on the K1 visa not the B2.  So I assume I have got my wires crossed.  Lots of lessons learned.

That is 183 days......

I don't know the process, but London is still issuing some B-1/B-2 and B-2 visas;
39 B-1/B-2 and 3 B-2 issued in June: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyNIVIssuances/June 2020 - NIV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf
15 B-1/B-2 issued in May: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/MonthlyNIVIssuances/MAY 2020 - NIV Issuances by Post and Visa Class.pdf
(July statistics not yet available)
 
But first you'll need to meet an exception to the UK and Ireland proclamation. There is an exception for spouses of US citizens. Marriage process in Gibraltar is straightforward: http://www.visitgibraltar.gi/getting-married After meeting the exemption, you'll have to figure out how to contact London Embassy on the process of applying for B-1/B-2 as an individual that isn't subject to UK and Ireland proclamation.

He (the Scottish person) is using Seven Corners which covers covid even with restrictions.  My US insurance covers emergencies abroad. Don’t think it’s affected by covid but not sure. 
 
 We are having an amazing time!
 

They only asked for her quarantine form, checked a few details, who she was visiting, how long was she visiting and purpose of the visit.  She said she was visiting her fiance. No real trouble at all.
 
Oh and just in case here is the link for the form and details, you can only fill it out 48 hours before travel. https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk.  She said there were lots of folks on the plane that didn't have the form and were struggling to complete it on their phones in the queue.

I have just come out and walked to regents park to sit in a shady spot and thought I would write a quick review.
My appointment was 2.05pm but because I was super paranoid about finding it I got the 8am coach from Bristol and arrived at about 11.40am.  I buzzed them just in case and they asked if I wanted to do it now which I said yes and was ushered in.
At reception I handed in my paperwork which they photocopied and gave me back.  They also gave me another detailed form to fill in about previous operations, mental health, drugs, alcohol etc.  My only check was for medication for HBP and I smoke tobacco.
There was also a consent form and another short form (can't really remember what was on it but a few basic questions).
After this I was given my pot for a urine sample which was great as I was busting for the toilet and had held it in since Victoria.  I filled that and went to the waiting room.  
A short while later I was called in for the chest x-ray, took off my shirt and did that in a few minutes and went back to the waiting room.
Not a minute later the nurse called me in for the vaccines, I had no record of any since as the nurse said, back in my day they used to write in pen and paper.  
I only needed two the Tetnus(sp?) and the MMR.  I was given the option of a blood test for immunity but I opted just to get them out of the way for an extra £90 for both (one on each arm).  I don't like needles but it was painless and the nurse was lovely.  She gave me the vaccination record and suggested I take a pic with my phone too as it's easy to lose (good advice)
Then it was back to the waiting room for about 5 minutes then the female doctor called me.
We had a quick chat about my pre existing conditions (hypertension and sleep apnoea) and discussed medication etc which was painless.
She then went through and confirmed no previous mental health issues, STDs, drinking, arrests, drug taking  and if I need glasses which was all no and then we moved on.  She did remind me how bad smoking was and I should give up which I had to agree with her and told her she sounded like my wife and I agree with them both.
As she was a female doctor I had to sign consent I was happy for her to do the exam which I was. 
The first part was an eye exam where I read the letters on the line with each eye forward and backward.  Then she shone a light in my eyes and ears. I was wearing a mask so no exam of the throat although she did feel my neck.
I then stripped to my pants and put on a dressing gown and she took my heartbeat and noted it was racing.. (I hate needles and knew it was coming).  She took my BP and that was all good, listened to my chest front and back with a stethoscope whilst I inhaled and exhaled, took my pulse from my feet.
She then drew the blood from my arm after checking both, usually doctors have trouble getting my veins but she did it first time and it was pretty painless.
There was no dreaded genital exam and she told me to get dressed and said everything seemed to be in order and she would send it to the embassy when the bloods, chest x-ray and urine samples came back.
I then waited a few minutes in the waiting room and the front desk called me to pay.  They told me the results should be on Monday and any issues they will call me direct, otherwise it should all be good and will be sent straight to the embassy.  £440 lighter I left.
It was all in all a pleasant experience, certainly not worth the amount of stress I had before.  
Also the whole time you have to wear a mask, as do all the staff.  Everyone is really nice there.

We met here in Mexico a few days ago and everything went smooth.  Enjoying the riviera maya now.

Hi, the form is here: https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk.  You can only fill it in 48 hours before you leave, but it's pretty straight forward.  Today is the end of our 14 day quarantine, so we are going outside! Yay!

Yup the UK is open. Jessica just arrived from the US this morning. She had to complete a form and will now be quarantining, as remotercharm says, for the next 14 days.  But at least we are together again! 🥰

I am honestly starting to feel like like this with all of these updates

 
But if the US is as obsessed with maintaining bilateral relations with the UK (and EU, but less so) as they seem to be, they cannot keep the travel ban in place too much longer. What that means for the embassy is anyone's guess.
 

She was due to fly from Charlotte direct to London. The flight was changed to go via Chicago as most international flights now are going through the "hub" airports https://www.dhs.gov/coronavirus/protecting-air-travelers-and-american-public.  It looks like both Fort Lauderdale and Miami are both in the list, so you should be able to get a direct flight from Florida.
 
Charlotte airport was a little quieter than normal, but not much. The flight from Charlotte to Chicago was pretty normal for a domestic flight in the US at the moment, relatively busy and everyone wearing masks. 
 
Chicago airport was very quiet, and the flight from Chicago to London wasn't at all full, she had an entire row to herself. Food and drink service was normal. Only difference was having to wear a mask for the duration of the flight, apart from eating and drinking.  Top tip, get a comfortable fabric one!  
 
Arriving at London was easier than normal, she was out of Terminal 5 in about 25 mins as the passport queue was so short.  They only asked for her quarantine form, checked a few details and she was good to go.  Here is the link for the form and details, you can only fill it out 48 hours before travel. https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk
 
Expense, it wasn't any more expensive than usual.  Jessica paid with air-miles but the cash equivalent was normal for a US to UK flight.  
 
I hope that helps!

My fiance shared this with me tonight, and I had to share it -- it is so unbelievably wrong on many, many levels.
 

 

Hi everyone,
I FINALLY made it to the USA!!! That was quite an adventure. In the beginning everything was totally relaxed in Serbia, but when the protests started I felt really uneasy. I just hoped that there would be no new restrictions. 😅
 
@thisguyflies actually explained everything quite nice, our flight was exactly the same. We only had a different experience at customs.
 
On Monday morning we left for the airport at four in the morning. They checked there twice that I was in Serbia long enough and then we already started. The flight was relatively empty (but quite a lot of older and very old people!). When we arrived in NY, my fiancé and I went through customs together. The officer only took the sealed package, my fingerprints, a photo of my face and then put me in a room (by the way, he didn't ask me a single question, e.g. how long I was outside the Schengen zone). In the other room, another officer stamped my passport, left for a short time and then wrote in the passport. Also the officer didn't ask me anything at all, he also didn't say that we have 90 days to get married and so on. He just gave me the passport and said 'Have a nice day'. To be honest every entry on the ESTA and student visa was longer and more complicated than that. But I'm just glad that we're finally getting this behind us. The flight to Charlotte was a breeze.
 
We are now planning to get married on Friday and send off the AOS asap. 😊
 
Wishing everyone who still has that adventure coming all the best and good luck!!! 💕

Jessica (USC) is here now, "quarantining" at my place.  They just asked her to fill out a form and give an address and phone number to contact her on.  It's been a week so far, no call, no visit, nothing.  Also self isolation is just keep away from busy places, you can still go for walks (socially distant of course), maybe even a picnic to a nice quiet park or something.  We are going to a drive-in cinema this weekend, isolating in the car.  I hope that helps and you get to see your fiance soon!

Thanks.  He is here on an L1 visa so he can come back in -- provided he quarantines on the way back in. He was thinking about quarantining in Aruba. I have dissuaded him from going but it's up to him. I think ultimately he will decide to stay here -- the stay in the UK is one thing, the one in Aruba or wherever holds too many variables. 
 
Glad you guys are getting to see each other! 

Hi, all.
 
Here is a deep dive into my experience of my journey from Serbia into the US. I will try to be as detailed as possible and provide as much help and advice as I can, but please keep in mind that this was my experience as of 26 June - 11 July. Use this as a reference for your own plans. To read about my journey flying into Serbia from the UK, please read this post from when I first arrived in Belgrade.
 
--
 
Let me start by saying that Serbia's attitude toward coronavirus changed DRASTICALLY in my time there. When I first arrived, everything (and I mean everything) was open and running like normal. By the following week, the city was protesting new curfew rules, which eventually turned into rioting/police brutality. The curfew didn't happen due to the response from the public. I'll refrain from making any comments on politics in Serbia, and I can't predict what'll happen next, but more restrictions are a very real possibility that you should take into consideration.
 
I won't go into too much detail on this, but I had to leave my airbnb halfway through my stay due to a cockroach problem... I then went to a hotel in the middle of the city and the protests erupted right outside. I THEN moved to an airport hotel for the final two days, which was not a pleasant experience due to it being in the middle of nowhere with barely any amenities.
 
My journey began by getting a ride arranged by the hotel to the airport. You cannot check in for the flight with Air Serbia online due to a new rule about only citizens of the country you're traveling to being able to. So, I walk to the check in desk and tell the guy where i'm staying in the US. He checks my passport and visa. Asks his colleague if a K1 visa is ok. They say "yes". Asks me if i've visited the schengen area in the past two weeks. I say "no". I am given my boarding pass. I'm checked in.
 
Next, in Belgrade airport, you walk up the stairs and through a passport control area where they give you an exit stamp. I was a little surprised that I hadn't gone through any security, but found out later that the security is at the gate. The problem with this is that they don't allow water bottles through, so you're going to be without access to much water for a while other than what they give you on the flight (which is minimal).
 
At security, they once again checked my visa and once again ask if I've visited the schengen area in the past two weeks. I say "no", go through security and i'm at the gate. The place is pretty packed with varying amounts of mask discipline from other passengers. Can't do much about it other than remaining as careful as you can be. Be aware that you'll be wearing a mask this entire time other than when airport staff ask you to pull it down when checking your passport pic.
 
My flight got delayed by about an hour, which wasn't great for the nerves because they didn't announce anything during the wait and I had to make a connecting flight in JFK and had no idea how long immigration would take.
 
They announce boarding. I go on the plane. The plane is reasonably full, but most people had space around them. The plane takes off. So far, so good...
 
The flight is just like any other long distance flight except that you don't get much service. The food was a cold mix of this cheese, turkey slice and cornbread combo. Bit weird. I only had a little. You're asked to fill a form (BRING YOUR OWN PEN, I BROUGHT TWO BECAUSE I KNEW THE PERSON NEXT TO ME WOULD ASK AND I'M NOT GONNA SHARE. I LET THEM KEEP IT AFTER USE). It's like the usual landing card for the US (address you're staying at in the US, passport number, flight number etc.) except there's a section asking about COVID symptoms and a section asking "IN THE PAST 14 DAYS HAVE YOU BEEN TO ANY OF THE COUNTRIES OR GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS LISTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS FORM?". The list will have these countries.
 
Flight is 9 hours and 15 min. It'll say it's a 10 hour flight online, but they regularly get there in 9hr 15min. I was already sitting quite close to the front, but before we land, I moved to the very front so that I could be first off. The plane lands. The airbridge is delayed. I'm standing next to the door nervously willing it to attach. Around 10 min pass before the door opens and I bolt it. I overtake the two business class people who were let off first and run with all my stuff to beat the lines. It took about 5 min. When I get there, it's empty. I spot the border agent and walk over.
 
I tell them i'm entering on a K1 visa. They ask me if I have the visa packet. I get it out of my bag and give it to them. They check my passport and the form that I filled out on the plane. They open the packet, call over a CBP college, hand them the packet and tell me to go with them. All very friendly. I walk with the CBP agent to a room off to the side where they place my passport and packet on a raised desk with about 5 people on it and ask me to wait until my name is called. Around 5 min pass before they call me over. They say "you're staying at xxxx, right?" which is respond yes. They do something with my paperwork. They ask me "you know the rules, right?" to which I say "yes" even though i'm not sure which rules they're specifying, but they clear it up with a "you have 90 days to get married". I tell them i'm really looking forward to it. They hand me back my passport with a green slip inside of it and tell me "congratulations". I thank them. I did it. The emotions I felt were immense that I almost missed having to hand that green slip to the guard on the way out. The whole process took no more than 15 minutes and was very straightforward.  
 
I made my connecting flight easily. I landed at my destination some hours later and met my fiance. We drive to our apartment. We begin our lives together. We made it.
 
Thank you to everyone on here who helped out and was following my story. It's been an incredibly challenging time and i've experienced some of the lowest points of my entire life. The anxiety and overthinking involved is unbearable at times. To the people reading this who were in a similar situation, you have my full empathy and respect.
 
I can now confidently say that this guy did indeed fly.